Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-09
AN EPISTLE TO M0RM0NS,
THE THREE PRESIDENTS RAIL
AGAINST THIN LAWS.

M - No AJA w 81
Edmunds Eirst Law Represent ed as En-
courngins Violation OF the COnstitu-
tiou In Order to Deprivs The Church of
Hts Political Power-rho Edmunds-
Tucker Law Characterized as Akin to
the Edicts of NJ dinval DespOts.
Provo, UTAH, April Sat a general
conference Of the Mormon Churoh to-day
an epistle was read from Presidents
Taylor, Cannon and Smith, who COM
prise the first presidency of the church.
1t congratulates the people upon the
peace and prosperity attending them and
upon the increased growth OF Mormonism,
Notwithstanding the efforts OF its enemies
to the contrary, and exhorts the people
TO be vigorous observers of their duties
and TO stand true to the principles
espoused from the organization OF the
church. The epistle goes on to say that
various agencies have been employed to
ELECT the overthrow or the church; that
falsehood and violence having been tried
In vain new crusade has been inaugu-
rated in the form of legislative tyranny,
carried on by cunning adventurers and
reckless fanatics.
THE EDMUNDS LAW.
Referring to the Edmunds law of 1882
1t says that the ground taken by its pro-
moters Was that violation of the soundest
political principles, even of the constitu-
ton itself, would. be both praiseworthy
and dJustihable If necessary in order to
take political rule in Utah from the Nor
mon majority and give il TO the anti
Mormon minority, and having so acted In
the past IL Is not unexpected when other
and more outrageous attempts are made
to accomplish their purpose. Their sue
cess in securing the passage of the origi-
nal Edmunds law emboldened them to
make most extraordinary demands for
further legislation.
DECLARED DEsPOTIC.
The letter says in regard to the Ed
munds-Tucker law that it is generally
considered that no such law was ever
enacted in this country before, and its
parallel can only be found in the history
of mediGval times, when mems ideas
were confined to such grants as despotic
governments chose to give them. The
provisions of the. law interfering with
church property contrary to the inten-
tons OF its donors, violation OF ecclesias-
tical rights, spoliatiOn and confscatlOn
and disfranchisement of women without
even an allegation of crime against them,
are an arbitrary exercise of desp0tic
power without parallel in republican
history, and the pretense OF the enemies of
the Mormons that they wished to rescue
the women of Utah from bondage would
be forever silenced by this outrage.
PUTTING THE MINORITY ON TOP.
The whole bill betrays an attempt to
pave the way for domination OF the major
ity by the minority because the majority
is composed OF members of an unpopular
aht faF Fnf
subjects of judicial persecution would be
considerably extended could extreme
rulings Of the Utah court be reviewed by
the United States Supreme Court, as
some have been. Referring to the dis
Incorporation of the church, grave doubts
are entertained as to its being cor
poration, and II 1t 10 yet decided
TO be a corporation is it possible, after
the Territory granted charter OF incOr-
poration which Congress for years per-
mitted TO remain unchanged, that the
latter body can now revoke the charter
and appropriate the proceeds OF the prop
erry to such uses as the majority in Con-
gress designatet Ii so, are we, with all
the people of the territories, living under
the government and law? or are we and
all our rights as freemen subject to the
whim and caprice of Congressp
THE TEST OATH.
Referring to the test oath the epistIe
says: understanding fully, therefore,
all the consequences, they who do 50 have
generally resolved to take the oath rather
than be the victims of political dema-
gogues, but this willingness does not
divest @e oath of Its enormlty or uncon-
stitutional character. The rule of the
law is that a man is presumed to be inno-
cent of offense and intention to commit
any offense until be Is proven guilty,
BY the Edmunds- law 1t 10
presumed that the citizens of Utah are
disposed to violate the law and must,
therefore, rebut The presumption by TAX
ing the oath. If the oath we're expurga-
tory and were required of people In re-
bellion, IL might have show OF justifica-
tioE; but to require such an oath from
citizens who have violated no law is with
out parallel even among despotic govern
menUs.
EVIL PRECEDENTs.
ain the haste and zeal of madness to
destroy MormOnism all settled principles
OF Jurisprudence are disregarded and evil
precedents are established. Men talk
and act as II IL were absolutely essen
tlal to the happiness OF the people Of the
republic TO override every true principle
OF government In order TO strike down
the majority OF the people OF Utah.
There is danger that the precedent now
being made VIII, in the not distant
future, be inconceiyably fruitful Of evil
TO the people of this republic"
TIE epistle 10 chiefly remarkable for its
silence on the subj ct Of polygamy, TO
which it makes no ailusion whatever.